Jon Bon Jovi: Steve Jobs Is 'Killing the Music Business'

By Sarah Crow Posted Mar 17th 2011 11:30AM

Jon Bon Jovi: Steve Jobs is 'Killing the Music Business' While rock legends Bon Jovi have been living on a prayer, the music industry is living on borrowed time, according to frontman Jon Bon Jovi.

In an interview with London's Sunday Times magazine, the seasoned rocker, 49, bemoans the loss of music store culture and points his figure at an unlikely source of the industry's demise: Apple's head honcho Steve Jobs.

Bon Jovi says, "Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it."

Bon Jovi alludes to the notion that Apple's iTunes music store and its pay-per-song pricing model have destroyed music lovers' ability to fully appreciate the experience of buying an album.

"Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business," he says. "I hate to sound like an old man now, but I am, and you mark my words, in a generation from now people are going to say: 'What happened?'"

Tags: jon bon jovi

Comments

(48)

Thursday 17 March

By Betsy

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Hi Nancy I have to disagree with you on Miley..You might have just heard her on the Hannah Montana show and her job was to entertain the youngsters. You should really take a moment to really listen to her. I can draw but I always thought anyone could be taught to draw but to sing! That you need to be able to actually do. Give Miley a chance..she's only just begun! And her dad only got the show because Miley was in it..not the other way around.

Monday 04 April

By Maque

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Betsy....Her dad was a country star 25 years ago. Thats why she got the show.

By Bob

Even in the days of 78s, only one side had the popular song. Some things never change.

By Heather

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What killed the music business? American Idol, auto-tune and Glee.

By bobby

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SMPATHY FOR A SELL OUT?.Not here .You lost me for a fan when you sucked up to Obama and endorsed that fool .Ask his supporters to support your sell out a--.

By Joey D

Jon Bon Jovi had a hell of a time in his 20s, roadies, groupies, private planes. Of course he doesn't want anything to change. But time marches on.

By jim

the problem is most albums these days are released based on one sort of hit single, while the rest of the album sucks....nobody wants to pay 20 bucks for crap. It's easier to buy the song that's good...and I'm old too!!!!

By jo

I'm much older than Jon Bon Jovi and I like the fact that you can buy music on iTunes, Jon you are full of crap...this is about your own bottom line....Why buy analbum when you only like 1 or 2 songs?

Bobby, he lost me too when he sucked up to Obammy, why doesn't he cry to him? LOL

Monday 21 March

By chris120

Seems silly to base your like or dislike of an artist based on politics.Like saying you like Jon Voight movies based on the fact that he supported McCain.If you are so bitter that you can't get past that, then you are not a fan. Politics shouldn't enter it.

By annzo123

He has a point. I remember going to concerts every weekend in Boston. Im 49. Used to cost about 8 dollars to see the Greatest bands ever. I took my kids to an Eminem concert a few years back and it cost me over 250.00. People cant afford to go to concerts anymore. Sad.

By darbar

JBJ is totally wrong. It's bad music that's killing the industry. It's also manufactured "stars" like Spears, Bieber and all the rest who have marginal talent, but because of technology and the ability to make a so-so singer sound good, you're not getting the real talent of days gone by. Once these people go on the road, unless they lip sync, which sucks big time, the audience finds out that these people have absolutely so singing ability. And then you add all the bells and whistles of the touring bands or individuals, which only shows how much fancy technology they can think up. But again, those laser shows, pyrotechnics and all that only showcase the marginal talent of the people on stage. Make good music and we'll listen. Sound like a moose in heat, or lip sync everything and we'll tune out.

By shocked by the dummies

He's right in the certain point he is making. Most of you are taking this as a broad statement. It's just part and parcel.

Someone mentioned auto-tune, AI, Glee, cd's. All part of the demise as well.

Singles have always been available. Always will be.

I can't stand Beiber but that ear monitor saves hearing in the long run. It in now way helps one sing better. It allows you to hear your performance better and keeps you from being over exposed to loud volumes on a constant basis.

Some opinions about the music biz here are way off. There is one thing all should know, corp. BS like AI and X-factor are contributors to the degredation of the biz. The music biz, in fact, the sleaziest biz on the planet. Even worse than the porn industry.

By Eighties

Over rated bands like yours have killed the industry. Todays music, no one would pay a nickel for.

By Rachied

The musicians are killing the music. When you used to buy an album, all the songs were pretty good. Nowadays, you're lucky if you get 3 good songs per CD. With iTunes, you buy the one or two that you know are good and the heck with the crappy ones.

By Lynn

I totally disagree. I buy alot of cd's, by artists I hear a song or two I like. I am very seldom disappointed by the rest of the cd. I'm not talking about these over rated pop stars. Pop music has always been terrible. I find, if I like a bands style, I will enjoy the entire cd, and I do. Of course there have been a few exceptions. I have to wonder why Bon Jovi thinks the music industry is dying? Maybe it's just not as many people interested in them. I know I've never been a fan.

By YellowRose3218

Only a few known singers have true talent now days.

By Tom

This guy is all about the money and ego. He claims that he's a blue collar band yet the blue collars can't afford his concert tickets. I saw him on Larry King years ago and he said he "could retire many times over" yet his ticket prices keep going up. I guess he needs it to buy an NFL team. I have nothing against a guy making as much money as they can but don't tell us your a blue collar band. And what kind of rocker has a full time P.R. man? The kind of rocker that thinks his music isn't good enough on it's own, that's who!!

You are exactly right! But I have another pet peeve, it is the rockers, rappers, hip hop musicians who use their celebrity to push a candiate on the mush minds of the young!

By Rj

Jon .. The music industry has treat YOU just fine. Wanna trade paychecks?

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